The thick envelope clings to the door, attached by a clear piece of tape. When you reach for its bulk, your fingers tingle as they touch its smooth surface. An unexpected warmth hits your palm and travels up your arm when you pull it free from the door; the feeling washes like a wave over you. Suddenly, your body knows, knows before you even have a chance to open the envelope to see the quickly scratched handwriting upon blue paper. The line work of a scribe you know intimately. Quickly you glance around the hall as you press the envelope against your chest and rush into your apartment.

The door is closed swiftly behind you, your back leaning against it as it clicks shut. You feel dizzy as your mind leaves you standing here. You're greeted by the lifeblood of your home but you cannot process your surroundings. Your mind is elsewhere, racing through the past, through the possibilities that this package may contain. 

The firm grasp of a pleading hand. The warmth of a lingering kiss against your skin. The steady rhythm of a heart so close. You can feel their touch, their kiss, your heart beats to their rhythm once again. 

How long have you waited? How long have you pictured what this moment would look like? The thoughts and emotions flood in, and your head feels heavy, your legs now giving up the fight, as you slide down against the door to sit on the floor. 

A tear? You're crying? You didn't realise how much you had stuffed it all away. How full the corners of your mind have been with the longing, the hope, and the fear. It’s hitting you all at once, all because of this insignificant looking envelope. Sent by someone very much significant to you. 

You feel a bump against your side and look down, instantly feeling the love, and possibly a tinge of eagerness for food, staring into your eyes. Memories are triggered and again flood your system in such a rush that the tears come faster in succession, so you reach out to stroke the welcoming creature, grounding yourself. 

“I’m scared.” Your voice cracks as you laugh at the insanity of your sudden emotional state. You swallow at the lump in your throat and suck in a deep breath and hold it there for a moment before letting it go. “I’m so afraid.” you whisper to the loving eyes. Another love bearing bump against your arm encourages you to be brave, and so you look once again to the envelope in your arms. At the possibility of answers finally within reach.

Sitting there, feeling love, fear, hope, you tear slowly at the edges of the sealed envelope and pull from within a single folded blue paper and a small figurine. The moment your eyes meet the scratched lettering, your entire world is altered forever. Your hand wraps gently around the wooden carving as your tears flow silently, rolling warm and glistening over rounded cheeks.

Bump. Bump. Love’s eternal.